Best Print Designs of 2021

Overprinting

Bold colors were a recent major graphic design trend, and while they are easy to achieve digitally, they can be tougher to reproduce in a physical print design. But one tactic can saturate your designs and eliminate unwanted white space: overprinting.

Any time you print something, your computer and printer simply utilize one layer of ink. For example, your background won’t be printed underneath your ornate typography - only the top layer will be produced. However, this can leave unwanted and unforeseen white spaces called ghosting, which tarnishes the overall design. Utilizing overprinting in reprographics ensures that each layer is printed and the design stays intact - much like two layers of paint in a home.

Additionally, overprinting can be used to create bold colors and saturated effects by layer the ink on top of one another. Be careful not to overuse overprinting, though - too much can muddy your design.

Think Outside The Lines

While aspects of graphic design support advertising and marketing initiatives, it also serves to build a strong brand visual identity. By doing so, you’ll see stronger customer loyalty, better brand awareness and, ultimately, more conversions.

So, if you keep your brand identity and what your consumers want to see in mind, you’ll likely see that thinking outside the box - and maybe coloring outside the lines a bit, too - will further this goal. Don’t be afraid to try an edgier concept or implement a new design element, as long as it’s balanced with tried-and-true aspects such as white space and legible typography that keep the design user-friendly.

Typography and Readability

Legible, beautiful typography is intrinsic to effective print designs. They directly influence emotions and conjure memories and associations. And since 65 percent of consumers would rather purchase from a company they have an emotional connection with, typography is an element worth investing into your print design.

Keep The Grid

If you want to break the rules, first you have to learn them -- and the no. 1 rule in design is to stick to the grid.

Consumers have ingrained patterns and ways in which they best consumer information - it’s why the F pattern is so popular across the board. It cultivates an organized design that communicates information easily and thus, enables consumers to better retain it. These designs, although intricate and engaging, are extremely symmetrical and follow a clear grid. 

It’s not to say that you can’t break the grid now and then. However, before you do, take the time to understand your audience, their likes and dislikes, and the print designs that have done well (and those that have not). This will tell your team whether or not your consumers will appreciate a more abstract layout. But when in doubt, grid it out.

Print Ads

Print ads' overall effectiveness in the digital age is dwindling. However, they still bring in billions of dollars in revenue every year. In major cities with billboards - such as Los Angeles - or with various printed collateral - like New York City’s robust subway system - print ads can reach thousands of unsuspecting audiences with ease.

Print advertising campaigns can achieve several different goals and often couple well with marketing initiatives that signify a new brand identity or product release. The key is to ensure your print ads are modern, captivating and highly targeted.

Banners

While website banners may not technically be a print design, they certainly require a graphic designer's expertise and are imperative for online and offline businesses. Global revenue from banner ads is expected to grow to over $212.7 billion in 2025.

There are several tips and tricks that will make your banner ad more successful, such as utilizing color psychology to influence consumers’ moods and integrated animated graphics - a design trend that is exploding fast.

Website banner layouts should also be strategically designed to effectively capture new consumers. A readable font and negative space allow your call to action to take center stage. Take care to make sure every type of banner is perfectly sized - this way, you’ll avoid pixelation and poor layouts. 

Stationery

Seventy-seven percent of marketers believe a strong brand identity is crucial for future growth - and part of that strong branding is reinforced through cohesive visuals on all platforms.

Consistent and cohesive brand identity builds credibility and clients and business associates want to work with a credible brand. Therefore, branded stationery is a great investment - particularly for corporate companies that send a great deal of personalized printed information and conduct formal communication.  

Stationery is the perfect place to subtly reinforce the brand through small logos, signature color palettes and ultimately ensure that your company is at the forefront of your business partners’ minds.

Graphic Designs

The digital age has transformed traditional print designs, ushering in mediums like email marketing and social media. They’re effective, too - 59 percent of marketers say email is their most effective marketing channel, and Internet users between 18 and 34 are 95% likely to follow a brand on social media.

This means that digital channels see plenty of exposure and have endless conversion potential, and it’s worth your while to channel some of your designers’ time into creating engaging image banners for your email marketing campaigns or designing branded posts for social media.

Catalog

It’s easy to brush direct mail marketing to the side, but the fact of the matter is that sending physical print designs such as catalogs is still effective. Catalogs are making a big comeback. According to the Data and Marketing Statistical Fact Book, over 130 million people purchased from a catalog.

Invitation

Eighty-two percent of U.S. adults are loyal to certain brands, and much of this loyalty is fostered through personalization and friendly interaction. Creating stunning invitations for various events - whether physical print designs or digital - are an excellent way to drive home that personal connection with consumers.

Everything from internal gatherings (which boost company culture and, ultimately, your bottom line) to pop-up shops can take on a special feel when invitations are issued. Although they place more emphasis on brand values and overall experience, millennials, in particular, will also spend up more at a company with strong customer service. This makes something as simple as an invitation to a public pop-up shop of experiential exhibit reach a new level of importance.

Fact Sheet

49% of marketers say that visual marketing is important while 22% of them say it is absolutely essential. You can double down on blogging and design with the help of a fact sheet.

Similar to the ever-popular infographic, a fact sheet couples quick copy with a beautiful, organized layout to inform readers in a quick snapshot. Even in digital world, fact sheets are incredibly important - particularly for large meetings, conferences or even internal company information. Plus, when you branch out from a basic email and give partners, employees and clients something a little more interesting, they are more likely to remember the information.

Brand Book

Maintaining a consistent brand identity is one of the most important things your company should strive for. However, without hard-and-fast guidelines to follow, it’s far too easy to let little style elements slip through the cracks.

This is where a brand book saves the day. A brand book is a hefty long-form design that outlines appropriate branding guidelines for your company, from logos and fonts to mission statements and elevator pitches to acceptable imagery standards.

While it may seem like a lot of work for a mostly internal document,  printing a comprehensive brand book doesn’t just help the design team. It tells the entire company how to pitch the brand, frames ideal professional partnerships and even informs press kits for public relations purposes. It is all-encompassing and will certainly elevate your visual identity in the long run.